Presenter: 

Victor Tokman is an economic advisor to the President of Chile, based in Santiago. He has a doctorate degree in economics from Oxford University, an MA in Development Studies from the University of Chile and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) degree from the University of Rosario in Argentina. He has also received Doctorates Honoris Causa from the University of Rosario and from the Pontifical Catholic University in Peru. He also obtained the Rector Medal from the University of Chile.

Victor Tokman served, until June 2005, as the Assistant Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and as the ILO's Regional Director for the Americas. He has worked with the ILO for 28 years, previously as Director of the Employment Development Department in Geneva and Director of the Regional Employment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (PREALC) in Santiago.

Victor has taught at the University of Chile and the Catholic University of Chile. He has been a visiting lecturer at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Sussex and at the Economic Growth Center of Yale University.

He is recognised worldwide as one of the leading experts on informal sector issues. He has written numerous papers and books on this subject as well as on poverty and employment issues.

Reducing Exchange Rate Volatility and Supporting Competitiveness

Co-ordinators

Prof. Dr. E. Schaling

Prof. Dr. E. Schaling studied macroeconomics at the Faculty of Economic and Business Administration at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, currently Europe's number one faculty in terms of research output.

After obtaining his doctorate at the same university with a thesis entitled 'Institutions and Monetary Policy: Credibility, Flexibility and Central Bank Independence', he joined the Monetary Analysis Division of the Bank of England. In 1998 he moved to South Africa and became full Professor of Economics at the University of Johannesburg.

He has been a consultant to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Dutch Central Bank, the Bank of Finland and the European Central Bank. He is a fellow at the Center for Economic Research at Tilburg University and at the Centre for Dynamic Macroeconomic Analysis, University of St. Andrews in the UK. In South Africa he has been an adviser to the National Treasury, to the South African Reserve Bank, to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) and to the Presidency.

Dr. Schaling was appointed, in 2007, South African Reserve Bank Chair at the University of Pretoria.

Nicola Viegi

Nicola Viegi is an Associate Professor in economics at the University of Cape Town. A graduate from the Scottish Doctoral Programme in Economics, he has been a lecturer in economics at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, invited lecturer at the University of Malta and the Ecole Superior de Commerce in Toulouse and is currently Visiting Scholar at De Nederlandsche Bank . He studied economics at the University of Pisa in Italy. Before UCT, he was a senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

His main areas of research are economic policy theory, macroeconomic modelling and regional macroeconomic integration. Current research includes inflation targeting under uncertainty, monetary policy and asset prices, and macroeconomic integration in Southern Africa.

In March 2008, members of the TIPS team, Myriam Velia and Ximena Gonzalez-Nu�Ã�ƒ�Â�±ez, provided a series of training sessions in Antananarivo, Madagascar to participants from a wide range of backgrounds - government and customs officials, industry representatives and statistical employees. The course, which largely followed the programme and objectives of TIPS' advanced trade data analysis course, was oriented towards a presentation of the Southern African Trade Database (http://www.sadctrade.info/tradedata) an online database developed by TIPS, consisting of the import and export data of 11 Southern African states. The database has been compiled from data provided by member states.

The course was well attended and TIPS is particularly grateful for the support received from our hosts, the International Finance Corporation (IFC of the World Bank Group) bureau in Antananarivo, who provided outstanding assistance in terms of IT, organisation, etc. We also wish to thank the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Le Minist�Ã�ƒ�Â�¨re de l'Economie, du Commerce et de l'Industrie - MECI) and in particular, Mr. Freddie Mahazoasy, the Director General involved with trade at the MEC, who honoured us by officially opening the course. The presenters also benefited from input by Mr. Gerard Ravelomanantsoa, Director of International Relations and of Economic Integration of the MECI (Directeur des Relations Internationales et de l'Integration Economique in the Minist�Ã�ƒ�Â�¨re de l'Economie, du Commerce et de l'Industrie - MECI). �Â� 

The course organisers have also benefited from excellent preparation by APB Consulting in Madagascar.

TIPS is grateful for the support of Alain Pierre Bernard (APB Consulting), Anouchka Dina Razakandisa (IFC) and Fanja Ravoavy (IFC) whilst in Madagascar.

AusAID support made the visit possible.

A Review of South Africa's Industrial Policy

Co-ordinator:

Stephen Hanival is the Director of TIPS. He holds an MSc Degree in Economics from the University of London and an undergraduate degree from the University of Cape Town. He was previously the Chief Director: Services Sectors and the Director of Policy Analysis and Strategy at the South Africa Department of Trade & Industry and also served as a part-time member of the Board on Tariffs and Trade. His areas of research include industrial policy and small business development.

FDI, Firms and Domestic Linkages: Reflecting on SADC through Case Studies

Co-ordinator:

Glen Robbins is a part-time Researcher at the School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal and freelance consultant specialising in regional and local economic development, with a focus on regional and city economic development strategies, infrastructure planning and financing and trade and industrial policy. Previously he headed up the Economic Development and City Enterprises functions in the eThekwini Municipality (Durban). Since 2003 he has been involved in teaching and research at the School of Development Studies and has contributed journal articles and book chapters on subjects ranging from municipal infrastructure investment to industrial policy and local economic development. He has authored and co-authored reports for the Cities Alliance, UNCTAD, ILO and other multi-lateral bodies. During 2005 and 2006 he worked with the core writing team appointed by the South African Cities Network to contribute to the 2006 State of the South African Cities Report.

The New EPAs - Comparative Analysis of Contents & Challenges of 2008

Co-ordinator:

Mareike Meyn (ODI, UK): Mareike is a research officer at the International Economic Development Group of ODI. She has recently worked on South,South trade in Special Products and on assessments of the loss by Botswana and Namibia of preferential market access to the EU. Mareike works with Chris Stevens and Jane Kennan, both at ODI. Previously, Mareike worked at the Institute for World Economics and International Management (IWIM) at the University of Bremen, Germany. She obtained her PhD in Development Economics at the University of Bremen in 2006.

Mareike specialises in the evaluation of bilateral, regional and international trade agreements between European and Southern African countries. Her work includes assessing the socio-economic impact of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in Southern Africa. She has written extensively on the trade-related aspects of regional economic integration in Southern and Eastern Africa and the role of the private sector in supporting the formalisation of such arrangements. Mareike has also undertaken a series of sector-level studies and associated value-chain analyses in selected Southern African countries. She has lectured on development policy and co-operation and trade reform and liberalisation. She is currently working on an assessment of the compatibility of SADC members' national trade policies.

Multiple Crops and Local Distribution Models for Poverty Alleviation: Feasibility and Recommendations

Co-ordinator:

Tracy van der Heidjen (independent consultant: ComMark): Tracy holds an Honours degree in Economics and Law from Wits. She has 7 years economic research experience in banking (at the Treasury) and stock broking, and 5 years in financial services. Tracy was the MD of an asset management company and the MD of an asset management administration company.

Since 2003, Tracy has been working as an independent consultant. Her work includes public sector reform in Malawi, the implementation of various parts of the new National Credit Act for the NCR and economic analysis work for City of Johannesburg. She has also undertaken various studies for the HSRC, largely around job creation.

The Southern African Development Research Network (SADRN) is a new regional initiative funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and managed by Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). SADRN's objective is the co-ordination and delivery of policy-relevant research in the southern and eastern African region, as well the provision of related technical support to policy-makers. Its launch workshop in October 2007 was attended by more than a dozen regional economic and research institutions.

SADRN will capitalise on existing networks in the region and operate through annual rounds of stakeholder consultation, as well as workshops and seminars. Research efforts are focussed within three broad thematic areas identified as key at the Launch Workshop:

• Industrial policy and sector development at the regional level;
• Service sector development and the impact on poverty; and
• Trade policy and its linkages to pro-poor growth.

Implementation of these research themes will provide an opportunity to bring the regional and relevant global research communities together to engage in an ongoing policy debate and development process. This process will also involve institutional capacity-building and institutional strengthening in the region. In addition, the Network aims to provide an effective channel for training and dissemination of research and policy activities. The envisaged outputs of the Network in the medium term are as follows:

• Increase the supply of policy-relevant research in the SADC region;
• Improve the policy relevance of research through strengthening the capacity of policy-makers to be discerning research '˜users';
• Develop an appreciation for evidence-based policy-making by engaging policy-makers in the design, specification, implementation and review of research projects; and
• Build institutional capacity in key policy research institutes in SADC via the creation of Working Groups in focused thematic areas of research.

SADRN is therefore inviting interested regional institutions to submit Expressions of Interest to host one of the themes described above for a minimum of two years. The scope of activities in the specified thematic area shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Conduct policy-relevant research in the selected thematic area;
• Identify existing research and knowledge gaps;
• Conduct training courses, seminars and workshops;
• Maintain consistent communication and network with regional policy-makers on the subject;
• Create, maintain and update a database of existing information on institutions, available research and expertise in the region;
• Disseminate the outputs and outcomes of all activities; and
• Involve and develop younger researchers and provide mentoring support of a technical nature.

We invite interested institutions from Southern Africa, including research organisations and relevant university departments, to submit brief technical and financial proposals by Friday 29 February 2008. Further information may be obtained from Mmatlou Kalaba - e-mail: mmatlou@tips.org.za, tel: 012 431 7900 or fax: 012 431 7910.

The interface between trade and environmental impacts has long been a topic of heated debates. �Â� As sustainable development concerns grow worldwide, how is Southern Africa shaping up to meet the challenge? We consider this question through two sample studies. First, trade agreements and associated trade flows have implications for economic growth and therefore environmental impacts. �Â� We will look at the extent to which regional trading arrangements, both concluded and prospective; take account of sustainable development concerns. �Â� Second, sustainable development is not conceivable without economic growth. Investment is a key economic growth driver, but requires conducive regulatory regimes. In this light we consider how the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is consolidating its regional agenda in the field of investment policies, and whether there is scope for developing a common platform for negotiating investment regimes with partners external to the region. Note: Funding is available to support non-South African participants. �Â� Should you wish to apply - by Friday 25th January - please email Peter Draper:

Programme:

Note: This programme is subject to change without prior notice
�Â� 

• 10h00 �Â� "Regional Trading Arrangements and Sustainable Development" Wolfe Braude (Emet Consulting) and Khutsafalo Sekolokwane (BIDPA)
• 10h40 �Â� Discussions
• 11h20 "SACU Investment Regimes: Towards Harmonization" Sheila Kiratu (SAIIA)
• 12h00 �Â� Discussions
• 12h45 �Â� Closure and lunch�Â� �Â� �Â� �Â� �Â� 

The Community Work Programme (CWP) is a South African government programme that provides an employment safety net. It supplements livelihood strategies by providing a basic level of income security through work. The programme was started to address high unemployment and contributes to strategic goals of government in addressing poverty and unemployment. It is based on the recognition that policies to address unemployment and create decent work will take time to reach people living in marginalised areas with few opportunities. The CWP does not replace government’s social grants programme but supplements it.

The programme is targeted at unemployed and underemployed women and men of working age. It aims to give those willing and able to work the opportunity to do so, and afford them the dignity and social inclusion that comes from this. What makes the CWP different is that it is also a community programme. Work must be ‘useful work’. It must improve the area and the quality of life for the people living there. This includes fixing community assets like schools, road and parks, and setting up food gardens. People in the area help to decide on the kind of work needed, and what is most urgent. This could be looking after orphans and vulnerable children, helping sick people, assisting teachers at schools, looking after children while their parents are at work, and working with the local police to improve safety and reduce crime.

The CWP was started as a pilot project in late 2007, initiated by the Second Economy Strategy Project, an initiative of the Presidency based in TIPS. The programme was then implemented under the auspices of a partnership between The Presidency and the Department of Social Development, which constituted a National Steering Committee to provide strategic oversight to the programme. The National Steering Committee was expanded in 2009 to include representation from the Departments of Public Works, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Treasury. The roll-out of the programme was project managed by TIPS in partnership with two Implementing Agents, Seriti Institute and Teba Development.

In the year to March 2010 TIPS continued to work with the Presidency and Department of Social Development in the initial roll-out of the CWP. During this time it was decided that the CWP should become a fully-fledged government programme and it has been based in the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) since April 2010. TIPS provided technical support to DCoG until September 2011.

Dr Kate Philip, the inequality and economic inclusion programme manager remaines contracted through TIPS as an adviser to the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, on short term strategies for job creation, with a focus on public employment.

TIPS was also involved in research and impact assessment around the CWP. The Employment Promotion Programme (EPP) approved funding for six projects around innovation and the impact of the programme. Work on these was conducted in 2012-2013.

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